NBC News is reporting that prosecutors may be getting close to filing charges against former presidential candidate John Edwards, but have not gotten the OK yet from the Justice Department. At issue is whether Edwards violated election laws in trying to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter. An indictment could come within a couple of weeks, but should the Justice Department really be going after John Edwards for this? Hasn't the man and his family suffered enough embarrassment and humiliation already because of his actions?

As a filmmaker whose transgressive 1972 cult film "Pink Flamingos" captured a chubby drag queen named Divine doing unspeakable acts on camera, Baltimore director John Waters knows trash when he sees it. This is why the iconic purveyor of artfully exploitative films says today's so-called trashy media is not "real" trash. According to Waters, a recent tell-all book from onetime presidential candidate John Edwards'ex-mistress Rielle Hunter does not qualify as trash, nor does a reality show trained on former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol.

LOCAL Stay safe from sticky fingers You've spread out the beach blanket and now you're ready to cool off in the water. But what do you do with your wallet, car keys, watch and other valuables? South Florida lifeguards, police officers and beachgoers share their tips for preventing theft. 1B FLORIDA Will you be on the guest list? Florida's governor and fiancee Carole Rome, 38, will tie the knot on Dec. 12 in St. Petersburg. It will be the second wedding for both. Crist, 52, married in 1979 but divorced after six months.

NBC News is reporting that prosecutors may be getting close to filing charges against former presidential candidate John Edwards, but have not gotten the OK yet from the Justice Department. At issue is whether Edwards violated election laws in trying to cover up his affair with Rielle Hunter. An indictment could come within a couple of weeks, but should the Justice Department really be going after John Edwards for this? Hasn't the man and his family suffered enough embarrassment and humiliation already because of his actions?

I want to thank Publishers Lunch, my daily fix, for this little gem. According to Publishers Lunch: "Former John Edwards' campaign aide Andrew Young (represented by David McCormick), offering a tell-all about his role in trying to cover-up Edwards' affair and at least implying, according to the account in The Daily Beast, that Rielle Hunter's child was fathered by Edwards. "(Edwards has denied paternity, and Hunter declined to have a paternity test performed.) "In a classic assessment, the story notes: "So far, there have been no takers for Young's book, which one editor estimates could bring up to $1 million," states Publishers Lunch.

- John Edwards acknowledged Thursday that he is the father of Frances Quinn Hunter, the 2-year-old daughter of his former mistress, Rielle Hunter. The admission comes after more than two years of rumors and tabloid stories, and an investigation into campaign money that federal authorities suspect circulated around Edwards' mistress. Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and failed presidential candidate, has repeatedly denied being the child's father since August 2008. "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter, and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me," Edwards said in a statement.

The National Enquirer's publisher American Media Inc. said Monday it plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization in about two weeks to restructure its debt. AMI, which has offices in Boca Raton and New York City, said in a press release that the move would strength it financially and that neither customers nor employees would be affected. AMI said that its bondholders would forgive debt in exchange for ownership, a plan that has the support of 80 percent of those investors, the company said.

Elizabeth Edwards is coming to Broward to talk about overcoming life's adversities ÃÂ at a venue just a half-hour away from where her husband's pregnant mistress was stashed during the height of the 2008 presidential primary campaign. Even if Edwards takes a detour to check out the Westin Diplomat penthouse suite enjoyed by the rival for her husband's affections, don't expect to hear much from the wronged spouse about the scandal that destroyed her husband's political career.

By SERGE F. KOVALESKI and MIKE McINTIRE The New York Times, August 16, 2008

As tabloid reports of a sex scandal threatened former Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign last December on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, two lawyers surfaced with written statements that appeared to exonerate the candidate. One of them, Robert J. Gordon of New York, said that his client, Rielle Hunter, a pregnant 43-year-old filmmaker, was not carrying Edwards' child. Shortly thereafter, the other lawyer, Pamela J. Marple of Washington, sent word that her client, Andrew Young, an Edwards campaign aide, was the baby's father.

As a filmmaker whose transgressive 1972 cult film "Pink Flamingos" captured a chubby drag queen named Divine doing unspeakable acts on camera, Baltimore director John Waters knows trash when he sees it. This is why the iconic purveyor of artfully exploitative films says today's so-called trashy media is not "real" trash. According to Waters, a recent tell-all book from onetime presidential candidate John Edwards'ex-mistress Rielle Hunter does not qualify as trash, nor does a reality show trained on former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol.

The National Enquirer's publisher American Media Inc. said Monday it plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization in about two weeks to restructure its debt. AMI, which has offices in Boca Raton and New York City, said in a press release that the move would strength it financially and that neither customers nor employees would be affected. AMI said that its bondholders would forgive debt in exchange for ownership, a plan that has the support of 80 percent of those investors, the company said.

Elizabeth Edwards is coming to Broward to talk about overcoming life's adversities ÃÂ at a venue just a half-hour away from where her husband's pregnant mistress was stashed during the height of the 2008 presidential primary campaign. Even if Edwards takes a detour to check out the Westin Diplomat penthouse suite enjoyed by the rival for her husband's affections, don't expect to hear much from the wronged spouse about the scandal that destroyed her husband's political career.

- John Edwards acknowledged Thursday that he is the father of Frances Quinn Hunter, the 2-year-old daughter of his former mistress, Rielle Hunter. The admission comes after more than two years of rumors and tabloid stories, and an investigation into campaign money that federal authorities suspect circulated around Edwards' mistress. Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and failed presidential candidate, has repeatedly denied being the child's father since August 2008. "It was wrong for me ever to deny she was my daughter, and hopefully one day, when she understands, she will forgive me," Edwards said in a statement.

I want to thank Publishers Lunch, my daily fix, for this little gem. According to Publishers Lunch: "Former John Edwards' campaign aide Andrew Young (represented by David McCormick), offering a tell-all about his role in trying to cover-up Edwards' affair and at least implying, according to the account in The Daily Beast, that Rielle Hunter's child was fathered by Edwards. "(Edwards has denied paternity, and Hunter declined to have a paternity test performed.) "In a classic assessment, the story notes: "So far, there have been no takers for Young's book, which one editor estimates could bring up to $1 million," states Publishers Lunch.

By SERGE F. KOVALESKI and MIKE McINTIRE The New York Times, August 16, 2008

As tabloid reports of a sex scandal threatened former Sen. John Edwards' presidential campaign last December on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, two lawyers surfaced with written statements that appeared to exonerate the candidate. One of them, Robert J. Gordon of New York, said that his client, Rielle Hunter, a pregnant 43-year-old filmmaker, was not carrying Edwards' child. Shortly thereafter, the other lawyer, Pamela J. Marple of Washington, sent word that her client, Andrew Young, an Edwards campaign aide, was the baby's father.

LOCAL Stay safe from sticky fingers You've spread out the beach blanket and now you're ready to cool off in the water. But what do you do with your wallet, car keys, watch and other valuables? South Florida lifeguards, police officers and beachgoers share their tips for preventing theft. 1B FLORIDA Will you be on the guest list? Florida's governor and fiancee Carole Rome, 38, will tie the knot on Dec. 12 in St. Petersburg. It will be the second wedding for both. Crist, 52, married in 1979 but divorced after six months.